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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

Speaking Out

Diagnosing Jos

Political problems don't always have political solutions.

Sunday Agang | posted 12/23/2008 09:07AM

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Politics has become a lucrative business in Nigeria, resulting in our politicians using ethnicity, tribalism, and religious sentiments to pit the poor against each other. As long as our people continue to see politics as employment, a business that gives you the wherewithal to amass wealth and control others, we will continue to face destructive crises of this magnitude.

As long as our politicians corrupt the beauty of democracy by giving in to self-interest, we will continue to face repetitions of the Jos crisis.

Sunday Agang is dean of the School of Theology and Ethics, JETS Theological Seminary in Jos, Nigeria, and a John Stott Ministries-Langham scholar.

Related Elsewhere:

Sunday Agang also wrote an earlier article on the election-related violence in Jos, Nigeria.

Jos suffered similar violence in 2004 and 2001, with thousands of casualties.

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December (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 53

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Mihály Tapolyai,MD,D.Min

Posted: December 26, 2008 4:43 AM

About Nigeria:I don't believe in peace- not only for lasting but as a aim of our future image. I am a retired professor of psychiatry and saw tree generations here in Eastern Europe even the inner circles and I saw that hatred and hostility are growing rapidly than before they were. Morality and spirituality got down deeper in general. These are the facts.—"The world did not recognize Jesus —the King of Peace—He came that which was his own but his own did not receive Him.(John 1, 10-11)" We cannot get out of conflicts of power struggles. Politics has become a lucrative business not only for Nigeria, but here in Eastern Europe, too. Small nations has become chess pieces of big nations. So, what can we hope? We can and endure it and pray for His coming sooner!

David Warren (Registered User)

Posted: December 23, 2008 9:02 PM

John -- Not sure what your nasty comment has to do with the article. What are those religions? Where are they today? Where are the hospitals being built in their names? Where are the soup kitchens operated by them? Where were they when the Quakers were speaking out against slavery? Where were they when William Wilberforce convinced Parliament to outlaw the slave trade? Where were they when Mother Teresa was ministering to the sick and dying in India? Where are they when the Salvation Army collects donations to help those less fortunate? Where are they when Prison Fellowship and other prison ministries change lives? Religions are man trying to reach God (or gods). Christianity is God coming down to man in human form. You know not whereof you speak. John G. (mistakenly identified by this site as David Warren)

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